Study says this is Arizona's favorite candy. We have questions

Of all the candies filling store shelves this spooky season, we'd never guess Arizona's favorite.

October 10, 2024

Image: What's your favorite Halloween candy?

What's your favorite Halloween candy? Luke Jones/Accretion Disc/Flickr

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Halloween is right around the corner and that means it's time to stock up on jumbo bags of candy to make sure every kid in the neighborhood gets a sugar rush.

After showing off their costumes, some kids go straight for the chocolate, snagging as many Reese's cups and Twix bars as possible. Others prefer gummy and sour treats like Sour Patch Kids and Skittles. But what about Sour Punch Straws? Apparently, this is the entire state of Arizona's favorite candy.

Diet and health research company Innerbody conducted a study to determine the most-loved candy in every state in the nation. Alaska was ranked the least candy-loving state overall, and folks in Utah love sweets the most.

Colder states favor chocolate and residents of warmer states like lollipops and fruity treats. Maybe trick-or-treaters know a thing or two about ending up with a delicious bounty only to find half of it has melted.

Understandably, the study found that America's least favorite candy is Double Bubble Gum, maybe because candy and gum are different things.

When the study turned its attention to Arizona, Sour Punch Straws came out on top. The sour straws come in flavors like blue raspberry, strawberry and rainbow. More unique versions include pickle and ghost pepper flavors. Sour Punch Bites are also available, which are essentially sliced up straws.

This Halloween season, Americans are primed to spend $3.1 billion on candy, according to the study. And with stores selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes and other fall items earlier than ever, it's time to stock up before they sell out. But, when you spend your hard-earned cash to feed the ghosts and ghouls this Halloween, will it be on Sour Punch Straws?

Tirion Boan is the Food Editor of Phoenix New Times where she’s worked since May 2022. Tirion keeps a close eye on restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on metro Phoenix food news and trends. She also publishes major annual lists like Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the Best of Phoenix project. Tirion previously worked for publications including The Arizona Republic and The Tucson Weekly. She holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from the University of Arizona.

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